Grandparents shattered after boy's death in crash

A HORRIFYING head-on crash which claimed the life of a 14-year-old boy has shattered the lives of his grandparents who were driving him at the time.

Peter Imms, 14, died in the crash about 1pm on September 22, 2003, on the Bruce Highway 13km south of Carmila.

His grandmother Beryl McTaggart, 74, of Lismore, was driving the car and her husband, Leonard, also 74, was a front seat passenger.

An inquest in Mackay heard yesterday how the couple shared the driving, taking four days to get from Lismore to Mission Beach, changing drivers every few hours, never speeding.

''They were just playing it safe and being cautious about driving a long distance,'' accident investigator Constable Debbie Haworth said.

Mrs McTaggart told police she saw an oncoming car, thought it was heading onto her side of the road, so she asked her husband what to do. But before he answered she decided to take evasive action, swerving to the right and hitting the oncoming vehicle head-on.

Both Mr and Mrs McTaggart suffered shocking injuries and required extensive hospitalisation and long-term treatment. Two English tourists in the other vehicle also were injured.

Acting coroner Brian Kucks ruled there was insufficient evidence for anyone to stand trial on any charges arising from the fatality.